Ear-jewel fastening



(No Model.) 7

G. W. WASHBURN.

EAR JEWEL FASTENING.

No. 285,532. Patented Sept. 25, 188? Wit )1 esses: In U6 1: Zor:

We c imz u, wcmu. Photo-MW, Wm me UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE XV. WASHBURN, OF VEST NElV BRIGHTON, NFHV YORK.

EAR-J EWEL FASTENING.

. I 7 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,532, dated September 25, 1888,

Application filed June 23, 1883. (No model.) i

To all whom it Hwy concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Wasn- BURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at NVest New Brighton, Richmond county, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ear-Jewel Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, primarily, to means for securelyattaching to the lobes of ladies ears diamonds, pearls, or other jewels of great.

value, so that they cannot become accidentally or surreptitiously detached, and so that the wearer may know when they are securely fastened. My improved fastening is applicable, however,to ear-rings or ear-j ewels of any grade, being simple and inexpensive in its construetion, and peculiarly adapted to facilitate the insertion of ear-jewels and their removal from the ears when unfa-stened.

My present invention consists in an ear-j ewel fastening opened and closed by means of a slide adapted to open wide without any hingejoint whatever, and at the same time adapted lowing: It is more readily inserted or adjusted in the ear, although it may be of the smallest size suitable to the wearer, and wholly without hinge-joint, as aforesaid, and when fastened it manifests the fact by an audible click, which informs the wearer that it is securely locked. It prevents the hook from working forward in the ear-an accidental operation which frequently renders ordinarilyfastened ear-jewels ungainly. It is not liable to get out of order, as there are no parts which require straining. Ornaments can be soldered on the hook without taking the fastening apart and without injury to the hook, the latter being made of annealed metal. Finally, the earwire, being of annealed metal, can be bent at will, to suit ears that are pierced high or low, without drawing its temper or impairing its usefulness.

A sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as parthereof. Figure l of these drawings 'is a side elevation of my improved earjewel fastening in its closed or locked condition. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same unlocked and open. Fig. 3 is a back view of the same in the closed condition represented by Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end view thereof and Fig. 5 represents a front view of a solitairepearl suspended from a ladys car by means of my improved ear-jewel fastening.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This ear-jewel fastening is composed of two main parts, A B, the latter movable with reference to the-fo uner. Said part A consists, essentially, of a suspending-hook, or the earwire p'roper, (marked 71,) which may be, and preferably is, made of annealed wire, a pair of hollow wires or tubes, t1, soldered fast to the lower end of said hook, in vertical position, side by side, and a horizontal catch-ring, 0', attached to the back of that portion of said part A formed by said tubes and the lower end of said hook, said catch-ring occupying the depression between said tubes, as seen in Fig. 4. Said part B is composed, mainly, of a double wire, as I termit, (marked 20 20,)

formed by bending a suitable wire at 1nid-- length, so that its ends lie parallel with each other and with the front of the fastening, the same being fitted to said tubes t t of said part A, with sufficient space between the same to admit the point of said hook h. The connecting-bend of the double wire is at its upper end, and this end is further bent rearwardly, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and to its rearmost point a central catcl1-wire,w, is soldered. This catch-wire fits loosely within said catch-ring 1', depending at somewhat of. an angle in normal condition, as seen in Fig. 2, and is made of spring-wire, with a catchnotch, n, in its back, near its lower end, and with its lower extremity, x, bent rearwardly to form a tripping-pointor unlocking-projection. Said part A is further provided in the example with a ring, 1', soldered to the front of said hook h, as means for attaching thereto a pendant jewel-setting, s, Fig. 5; and I propose to use in connection therewith the j ewelsetting with a suspending-bar between its cramps, shown and claimed in my Patent No. 238,318, dated March 1, 1881. I do not, however, limit myself to so attaching jewels as pendants, but may instead or in addition thereto provide the front of the hook 71., or the surface formed by the lower end of said hook, in connection with said tubes t t, with a set jewel or ornament of any description, soldered fast or otherwise attached. Two distinct wires united with each other and with the catchwire 10 or its equivalent in any approved way may, furthermore, be used instead of the double wire w 10, above specified, without loss of function or material change of form; and in some cases a sliding part of fiat metal or composed of a single wire may be used, the guidetubes t t to be correspondingly modified.

XVhen my said earjewel fastening is in use, as illustrated by Figs. 1, 3, and 5, said hook it of the part A projects rearwardly through the pierced ear-lobe, and said double wire w w of the part B rests against the back of the earlobe, its smooth, round upper end projecting above the point of said hook and masking the same, said notch n in said catch-wire 10 engaging with said catch-ring '1', whereby said part B is securely locked in its elevated position, so as to preclude accidental displacement, as well as to resist any attempt of a thief to surreptitiously detach the ear-jewel. At the same time the fastening may be almost wholly hidden or concealed by the ear lobe and jewel, as seen in Fig. 5. The car-jewel is unlocked and released by placing the thumb against the front of said surface formed by said tubes t t,

and pressing said eatclrwire w" inward by means of the nail of the first or second finger applied to said tripping-point x, at the same time by means of the same finger drawing down said part B to its position represented by Fig. 2, so as to fully open the mouth of said hook h and facilitate unhooking the lat ter from the ear-lobe. In replacing or insert ing the hook h the fastening is conveniently grasped by its lower end in the condition mp resented by Fig. 2, and said hook is passed through the pierced ear-lobe with facility. Said part B is then pressed upward by means of the finger, and when it reaches its upper position of rest (representedby said Figs. 1, 3, 5 5

and 5) said notch it engages with said catchring a", producing an audible click, which informs the wearer that the fastening is securely locked.

It will be seen that so locking the fastening and manifesting the act is accomplished in this fastening without complication of parts, and the catch-wire w, in which said locking notch a is formed, as aforesaid, is the only part which need possess resiliency, while this is not liable to be subjected to excessive strain. Having thus described my said ear-jewel fastening, I claim as my invention- 1. An ear-jewel fastening composed of two main parts, one of which comprises a jointless 7o earwire, and a guide or guides for the other part, the latter being a slide which in its respective positions precludes the withdrawal of said ear-wire and facilitates its withdrawal, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In an ear-jewel fastening, the combina tion of an ear-wire proper in the form of a hook, a pair of guide-tubes attached to one end of said hook, and a sliding double wire or pair of wires occupying said tubes and form- 8o ing a space to receive and mask the point of said ear-wire, substantially as herein set forth.

3. In an ear-jewel fastening, the combina tion of an ear-wire proper in the form of a hook, a pair of vertical guide-tubes attached to the lower end of said hook, a double wire sliding in said tubes, catch-wire depending in rear of said double wire and formed with a catch-notch, and a catch-ring attached to the back of said tubes and embracing said catchwire, substantially as herein set forth, for the purposes specified.

GEO. XV. IVASHBURN. lVitnesses:

Tnno. I-I. SOHULZ, EMILE KRAUTH. 

